The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 110

*Beep, beep, beep...* The alarm blared loudly. J carefully, but gently, embraced the boy’s frail back, trying not to exert too much force. The boy, nestled in J's arms, coughed intermittently.

The scent of blood hung in the air. J tenderly stroked the boy’s bony back. The body leaning against him felt unnaturally light, and while the boy’s heartbeat was faint, it was quick—proof that he was alive.

‘He’s alive.’

I saved him. This child.

J repeated this fact to himself, and with it, the tension in his body finally eased. He let out a sigh. The boy, whose coughing had only just subsided, flinched slightly, as if aware he had done something wrong. But J didn’t feel angry. He was grateful instead—grateful that the boy had snapped him back to his senses.

‘Why would you die? You need to live… all the way to the end.’

That was the only way he could continue to care for this stubborn, strong-willed boy who had such a fierce determination to act on his own. J sighed again, much deeper this time. The boy's hand, which had been clutching his clothes, slowly loosened its grip. J pressed his cheek to the top of the boy’s head and murmured softly.

“Does it hurt?”

“……”

“It must hurt… Why did you do that all of a sudden?”

As always, there was no reply. But over time, J had learned to find answers in the boy’s small reactions.

His breathing had grown noticeably rough, and his body trembled slightly. Rather than admitting to pain, the boy had learned to endure. J gently patted the boy’s back, feeling a warmth he welcomed.

“You can do whatever you want, just… don’t scare me like that, okay?”

“……”

“The doctors will be here soon. Just hold on a little longer.”

“……”

The boy, who had been silently listening to J, suddenly shook his head. Then, as if trying to free himself, he began to push against J’s chest. Startled, J grabbed the boy’s arm.

“What’s wrong? Why?”

“……”

“You don’t like the doctors?”

The reaction was unclear. He didn’t seem to like or dislike them. At times like these, J knew it was best to ask another question. After a moment of thought, he rubbed his cheek against the boy’s head playfully and asked,

“Or… do you just want to stay alone with me?”

The boy, whose head had been resting under J’s cheek, began to nod vigorously. The response was so clear that it startled J. He looked at the boy in disbelief before a smile slowly spread across his masked face. Then, almost instantly, the smile turned into laughter.

“Hahaha! Oh, come on.”

The boy, now squirming as if embarrassed, tried to pull away. J quickly held him closer, soothing him.

“Wait, wait. I’m not laughing at you, I promise.”

“……”

“…Okay, okay. Just a moment.”

J reached into his inventory and pulled out a small bottle filled with a translucent blue liquid. The liquid squirmed on its own inside the bottle, like a living thing. It was a piece of slime that J had picked up after seeing Hunters playing with it. He had thought it might be fun for the boy to play with, but now it had a different use.

J tore off a small piece of the slime and tossed it toward the crack of the door. With a squelching sound, the slime stuck to the door and expanded, sealing the gap completely. Now, no one would be able to open the door easily.

‘While I’m at it…’

He tore off another piece and tossed it at the CCTV camera on the ceiling. The slime slithered over the camera, covering it entirely. J dusted off his hands with satisfaction.

“There. Now no one can come in. Happy?”

“……”

“You’re so much trouble, you know that?”

Though his words were meant to scold, J’s voice was full of warmth. The boy leaned even closer, his body pressing fully against J’s. Now, the boy could likely hear J’s heartbeat. As he gently patted the boy’s back, J suddenly said something he hadn’t intended to.

“…I’m going to be away for a while.”

“……”

“This time, it might take a long time. I don’t know how long….”

The boy’s frail hand, which could barely grip anything, once again clutched at J’s clothes. J stared at the hand for a moment before asking,

“…You don’t want me to go?”

The boy nodded slowly. How great it would be if he could stay. Truthfully, J didn’t want to head into danger either. In the past, he would have gone without a second thought, following orders without hesitation, without considering his own life.

But now, the reason he remained here...

J lifted his mask slightly, revealing a sharp jawline that, though still youthful, had the markings of a grown man.

“Give me your hand.”

“……”

He took the boy’s hand, which was gripping his clothes, and guided it to his face. The moment the boy’s fingertips touched his bare skin, they flinched as if burned. J chuckled softly.

“Go ahead, touch it properly.”

“……”

“We made a deal, remember? I said I’d let you touch my face. Well, it’s my face, not the mask, but still….”

“……”

“Aren’t you curious?”

At his gentle urging, the boy’s frozen fingers slowly began to explore J’s face. J closed his eyes, allowing him to continue. As the boy’s fingers traced his cheek and moved down to his jaw, the hesitation in his touch melted away. His fingers stopped at J’s lower lip.

J’s lips curved slightly into a smile. He deliberately opened his mouth and asked,

“Why’d you stop?”

“……”

The boy’s fingers jerked back, startled, pulling away from J’s lips. The sudden cautiousness in the boy’s movements stirred J’s playful side. How could he not find the reaction amusing? With a teasing tone, he said,

“You’re the first person to touch my face like this.”

The boy’s hand froze. J gently pressed his cheek against the boy’s bandaged palm. The warmth of their skin touching was a source of comfort, a reminder that they were both alive. J’s lips moved softly.

“…I’ll be back.”

J knew. He knew the chances of returning were slim. The odds of finding survivors inside the rift were low. But he had to go. Everyone expected it of him. Everyone wanted J to enter the rift and eliminate it.

That’s how it always was for heroes. A hero had no choice.

J agreed with them. Those who could be saved had to be saved. There was no need for any other reason. He believed that, and because of that belief, nothing could hold him back.

‘Everyone thinks that way… except you.’

J looked at his one exception. The boy’s face was slightly twisted, as if on the verge of tears. What could be more selfish than asking someone to wait for you when you know you may never return?

And yet…

Couldn’t he be a little selfish, just this once? J let his unspoken feelings slip out, cautiously.

“Will you wait for me?”

There was no answer. The boy pulled his hand away from J’s cheek. Of course. J understood. He was about to close his eyes when—

“……”

The boy extended his pinky finger.

---

The events that unfolded inside the rift afterward are hazy in J’s memory. Even when he tries to recall them, only fragments, fleeting scenes, come to mind.

He remembers thinking the sight of white ash falling like snow was beautiful. And before that thought could even finish, he saw blood splattering on the ash-covered ground.

Killing monsters, finding parts of Hunters who had entered before him, witnessing fellow Hunters being torn apart by monsters, hearing the screams of those begging for their lives, and the indistinguishable sounds of both humans and beasts... and the final words of his dying aunt.

Digging through piles of corpses, trying to carry out just one arm or one leg. Plunging the Basilisk’s fang into the head of a monster, only for a deathly silence to follow.

‘And then I woke up in a pile of garbage.’

Cha Uijae let out a bitter laugh as he tossed the bags in his hands onto the trash heap. He pulled off his plastic gloves and ran a hand through his messy hair.

They say extreme stress can cause you to erase parts of your memory. Maybe that’s what happened. He could only speculate. Even thinking back to the fragmented memories, he knew that place had been hell.

Yes, that place was like a *gu poison*—a deadly test of survival where countless lives are trapped, and only one victor emerges.

After realizing that the rift was a *gu*, Cha Uijae stopped trying to piece together the scattered fragments of his memory. Instead, he simply repeated the names and faces of those he had failed to save.

Even though Cha Uijae’s body was out here, it felt as if J had never left that rift, still searching through the corpses of his comrades, wandering the void in search of survivors. Forever dwelling on those he couldn’t save.

He kept the promise to save everyone close to his heart, even though he was now alone.

‘And now, finally...’

He had escaped from that isolation.

Uijae moved without hesitation. The warm orange glow of lights danced at the entrance of the hangover soup restaurant. Standing in front of the closed metal door was something shiny

 and familiar. It was a welcome guest. Uijae smiled brightly.

“Coco!”

“Coo?”

The ceramic chicken turned at the sound of his voice. With a box on its back the size of a human head, Coco bounced on the spot.

“Coo!”

At the same time, his phone buzzed in the pocket of his apron. It was a message.

The sender was...

**010-XXXX-XXXX:** Your order has arrived, dear customer. Please check the attached file.

**A Very Small Miracle Mingeojeok.**

________________

TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars and likes of the translation - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!